The Violinist (Ch.5)

[librasweets]

Title: The Violinist, Ch.5
Characters/Pairings: RussLat, Ukraine, LietPol
Warning: Fem!Latvia, Fem!Poland, medium angst and some fluff at the end
Summary: Regina Galante's second day at the Braginski mansion; a day in the life of Felicja the maid

Regina couldn't remember when she fell asleep or the last time she had such empty dreams. It felt like she was still awake, on a bridge between consciousness and slumber. She remained in the odd limbo for many restless hours until she was being shook awake.

Regina made a sound of distress as her body was being forcefully rocked back and forth. She attempted to squirm out of the small hands holding her.

"Stop it! It's just me!" She quickly remembered the owner of the thick Polish accent and relaxed. She blinked as much as her heavy eyelids would allow. "Felicja?"

The servant quickly withdrew her hands, allowing Regina to unsteadily sit up. The small girl had the beginnings of a painful headache, she didn't feel rested at all and the room had suddenly become freezing. She shivered in her light nightgown.

"You should wear more to bed." Felicja said simply, although she didn't have much more to wear during these painfully cold winter nights. She quickly retrieved the thick and wide wicker basket she was ordered to deliver. "Um, here's your breath fast. And some clothes."

Regina didn't respond immediately; she was still trying to stop the dull throbbing in her head. She looked over at Felicja, who was already setting down the plates and silverware on the decaying oak table on the other side of the room. Regina couldn't smell any food, but she was grateful for some, even if it wasn't her mother's. The throbbing suddenly went from her head to her chest, and it only increased in pain.

She unsteadily climbed out of the bed. "Oh, I can set it myself…" Was Felicja assigned to be some kind of personal servant? Regina couldn't bear that.

Felicja shrugged, she was just following orders. She pulled a small metal pot from the basket and tipped it directly over the white bowl on the table. A thick brown soup with odd meats and supposedly vegetables poured out. A few slices of bread and some sort of drink was also added.

Regina awkwardly sat at the table, not accustomed to being served or eating alone. "What is this?"

The blonde servant had to think for a moment. "Just soup, I guess." She shrugged again. "They just gave it to me." Felicja knew it was the leftovers from the servants' dinner, but it wasn't half bad if you warmed it and added some new vegetables.

The thick, unknown substance Regina feel considerably less hungry, especially since she couldn't identify the meat (or vegetables?) that was supposed to be in it. But a hunch told her it could be the only meal for the whole day, so she slowly began eating.

"Oh, and they got you some clothes too."

"Mmnf?" Regina's cheeks looked like she was imitation a chipmunk. She tried to swallow the soup as quickly as possible so she couldn't taste it. The tactic didn't work, the 'flavor' was sharp and almost rotten.

"I think these ... They're in good condition." Felicja didn't want to say they were Yekaterina's old clothes. She took out a few folded garments from the basket. All of them were either a deep maroon or a plain white. Regina was mortified at the thought of owing the Braginskis, even if it was someone as nice as Yekaterina and even if she needed the clothes.

"What's with your face?" Felicja stopped her unfolding. This Latvian had to be the strangest guest she'd ever served.

"I-I can't accept this," Regina said weakly, quickly wiping the soup off her chin with a napkin. "Even if I need it…"

Felicja scoffed and held up the first outfit, a simple and modest red dress. "These aren't brand new! And wouldn't you like some options?" I definitely would!

"I suppose?" Regina thought aloud. "This probably means I'll be staying a while…"

"Probably yes." Felicja said bluntly. She put aside the dress and took out the next set, a formal white shirt with a black ribbon around the collar and a long skirt with the exact shade of a red as the dress. It's like a uniform! What's with all this gross red? If I had a choice, I'd be wearing some super cute magenta right now…

There was no uncomfortable silence because Regina was eating as fast as she could and Felicja was putting away the clothes in the bare dresser. She picked up the wicker basket and went to the door. "Oh, and they want you in the dining hall with your violin in an hour."

"Wh-what?" Regina nearly spewed the gross stuff all over the rickety table, but the door had already clicked. She had to play something? What? She only brought a handful of sheet music! And she didn't even remember where the dining room was!

Regina felt mentally weak and physically tired, and it was only her second day.

Dressed in the second, less formal outfit Felicja supplied, Regina was as presentable as she could make herself. The bathroom had a few necessities, including a brush, although her curling auburn hair was impossible to manage. Her stockings from yesterday were clean, and the icy sludge from yesterday was nearly gone from her shoes. There wasn't much else she could do.

Her small feet tapped lightly as she walked through the towering halls. They were much more inviting in the daylight, darkness only seemed to give the mansion an eerie aura.

She tried her best to observe her surroundings, to take mental notes so she could find her way back, but it was hopeless. Most of the mansion was the same, grand as it was. All she knew is her room was on the third floor. … Or maybe the second? How many floors did this house have?

Her body began to shake as her anxiety grew. She briskly walked by a tall grandfather clock and checked the time. Felicja said within an hour, and it was fifteen minutes till nine. Regina still didn't have a bit of an idea where she was… She quavered. She couldn't help thinking the horrible things that would happen if she were late…

He didn't know if the quick and shaky patter, patter was an annoying or blessed distraction from his work. Ivan had stack after stack of forms and papers at his desk, and for the first time since very early that morning, he broke his concentration. It was only natural he'd be startled- no, mildly surprised, with that sort of walk. The servants quietly tip-toed, and his sister and mother were too graceful to make all that noise.

He had a feeling it'd be that girl, that little Latvian.

Ivan was usually right about his hunches. She walked nervously past his open door, hardly noticing his stare. She seemed to be talking and muttering to herself, too.

"Ah, whose there?" He called out cheerfully. Such a happy voice was unusual for a man of his size, but anyone who knew him could tell it was fake.

He could swear he heard a squeak. Silence, and then… back tracking that was louder than her initial walking. Regina stumbled in, and realized just whose room she was in. She felt tears brimming her eyes. Was he scolding her for being late? But, it was obvious he wasn't attending the breakfast…

"Oh, it's Miss Galante." Ivan spoke as if he were addressing a child. It was unnerving. She responded with a subtle nod of the head.

"You're up very early for such a small girl. Oh, but that is probably because Yekaterina wants you to play?"

"Y-yes, that…" The rest of her sentence trailed off in a quiet mumble. He hardly noticed, rather, he was looking over her carefully.

Her figure wasn't stunning, but the soft and subtle curves were pleasing for her short height. Her hair was a dull light brown, or perhaps a dark blonde. The Latvian's eyes were probably her most impressive feature, if only she'd look up…

Regina suddenly felt sweaty. She wasn't enjoying his completely even and calm stare. She couldn't look directly at him, instead, she stared at his desk. "E-excuse me… are you going to breakfast?"

"Da, I plan to."

"Th-then… Can you… show me to the dining room?" It was surely asking too much. It felt as if she had a fever.

His slow rise to her feet startled her more than a yelling voice would. "I suppose I might as well, Katyusha dislikes it when I am late. Come, follow me."

Ivan towered over her by at least a foot and a half. He swept past her, his long legs carrying him across the room quickly. Regina had to spin on her heels and trot after him. It's not like he was intentionally walking so fast that she ended up running to catch up…

Yekaterina's baby blue eyes lighted at the sight of her brother and running behind him, Regina. She was afraid he wouldn't be present and that Regina would be too tired from her trip to appear. Anything was better than breakfast with just her mother and her friends.

"Brother, I'm glad you came," Yekaterina ignored the disapproving looks as she shot from her seat and gave her younger sibling a hug. He wholly returned it, and Yekaterina smiled down at Regina. The Latvian tried to control her heavy breathing- the path from Ivan's office to the dining room was ridiculously long! She didn't blame him for wanting to skip breakfast.

"Re- Miss Galante! Did you sleep well?" Yekaterina wondered if she received the wool blankets she sent.

Regina nodded. "Da, it very well. Thank you for the room."

Yekaterina was about to invite her guest to a seat at the table, but paused. "You brought your violin? Do you intend to play?" Her smile widened noticeably.

The Latvian girl froze for a moment, her words disappearing. Didn't Felicja tell her they expected it? Maybe Yekaterina wasn't aware…?

She swallowed. "I-I do…"

"You're too kind Regina!" Forgetting formalities, Yekaterina pulled Regina into the same hug she gave her brother- only this one was a little more painful for the receiving party, due to Regina being so small and Yekaterina having a surprisingly manly grip.

Regina's labored breathing returned once she was released, and her hostess could hardly contain her happiness. "What will you play? Oh, I have no requests- I like anything." She turned quickly to her mother. "Anything is fine, da? You must hear her, mother-!"

Having a peasant in the house was as bad as her daughter's childish admiring. "Da, da, Yekaterina. Sit down now, we can't keep the guests hungry."

Her daughter's smile hardly fell. She said obediently, and looked at Regina with starry eyes. Ivan smirked in amusement.

The other guests were plump women with lots of jewels and thick dresses. Regina had never seen such hairstyles, but she figured they were what was fashionable. While Yekaterina was nothing short of glowing the anticipation, the others were skeptical.

Regina felt herself shake. She performed before thousands at that grand theatre, but this seemed different, almost like an entrance exam than an entertaining performance.

It didn't help that the mother had such a critical gaze… And Ivan's expression was unreadable, despite his assumingly kind smile.

Holding the decorated scroll firmly, she kept her chin steady despite her weakening heart. She held the bow against the strings, and it all came back to her. She picked a song that, for some reason, stood out.

Be thou with me… As the lyrics loosely floated in her head, Regina led her bow gracefully across her violin. Slowly but firmly, it played the light melody, one perfect for a spring morning. It lightened her mood and was her mother's favorite piece. It makes me think of princesses, Regina, dancing across a white floor in a room with large windows…

The memory caused Regina to falter for a moment. She continued, not bothering to look up. She felt a growing pride in herself, a kind of courage that only occurred when she played.

Why could she glide her bow back and forth with such confidence, remember each note so well, as if it were a close friend? Countless songs and melodies played in her head, and she was so sure of them… Why couldn't she be more sure of herself?

The song ended, and with it, Regina's fantasy of princesses and her assurance. She slowly lowered her violin to look at her small audience.

Yekaterina clapped, albeit softly, because she and her brother the only ones. She smiled broadly, wanting to say the praises that were dancing on the tip of her tongue since Regina first began. Ivan had his same smile, with a subtle look of ... Something watchful. It was almost as if he clapped and enjoyed it just for Yekaterina's humor, and something else.

"Very good," Was the most lavish compliment Lady Braginski said. "It is a lovely song."

"What is it's name? Who composed it?" One of the women inquired.

"B-bist du bei mir… B-by Bach…" Regina responded, pronouncing the German with such clarity that the women were put off. Regina knew a considerable amount of German, considering she played and studied so many pieces by Beethoven, Mozart and Bach.

"I think I've heard that before," Yekaterina said, more to herself. She turned to her mother. "At Mister and Misses Dyakov's wedding, a year ago…?"

"If you wish, you can play it at your's." Her mother's words had hints of bitterness.

Yekaterina tried to ignore the comment by focusing on her food. Regina noticed it was hardly touched compared to the others.

One of the fatter women spoke up, "Young girl, you must know of the Nutcracker. Could you play Op. 71, the Ballet Suite?"

Regina thought of the name, and the melody quickly followed. "Y-yes ma'am." She held the violin back to her chin, and let her arm move on it's own. This time, she had no thoughts of her family.

Breakfast ran into the early afternoon, and Regina began feeling fatigue as the minutes dragged by. They had asked her to stop playing, as the women began having conversations bordering on arguments. She wishes they'd led her return to her room, or at least sit down, rather than standing silently.

It seemed it was a custom for the servants to leave the room, wait for the family to depart, and then rush back in to retrieve the dishes and clean the table. Regina wanted to talk to Yekaterina, not to hear the girl's excited praises and admiration, but for answers. Yekaterina seemed too oblivious, too unaware of how Regina was taken.

Even if the servant's hadn't shooed her out and she got a chance to speak with the Russian heiress, Regina didn't believe she'd be able to confront her like that. She shook as she imagined Yekaterina's horrified expressions, and Ivan's piercing eyes.

Regina tried to shake off the scary images. She vaguely knew the way back to her room, but she didn't want to risk the chance of passing Ivan's office and having him notice her again. Perhaps there was another way, a hall the servant's used to stay out of sight.

Regina wandered for a few minutes and a rare moment of luck befell her. She spotted Felicja.

"F-Felicja, excuse me, uhm…" She walked up the Pole, shaking despite herself. Once she started, she couldn't stop.

Felicja glanced behind her shoulder, her face mildly surprised. "I knew I heard you. Breakfast is over?"

"Y-yes… I can't find my room."

Felicja rolled her bright eyes with exaggeration and sighed. "You'll need to figure out this place quick. They won't always help you."

Was she talking about servants or the family? "I-I know, I'm sorry-"

"Why'd you come down this hall, anyway? The other one is shorter. Who cares, follow me." Felicja seemed anxious, she had noticeable distraction in her voice.

"Tha-thank you Felicja, thank you," Regina mumbled gratefully, following the hasty maid. Regina felt it odd that she wasn't holding any sort of cleaning utensils or boxes or baskets, as she normally did.

And her appearance seemed off… Her hair looked less dirty, and her face was clean of the dirt and soot that was present that morning.

"Right here," Felicja opened the door to the familiar room. Regina wanted to pinch herself for focusing on the back of Felicja's head rather than where they were going.

"Try to remember. Goodbye." The Polish maid left, not giving Regina a chance to repeat her gratitude. Yes, something was definitely strange with Felicja this afternoon.

The following mornings were ones of awkward tensions. Regina continued to play for the family and their many houseguests, and afterward was promptly dismissed by the mother. She would have liked to sit and speak with Yekaterina (and have some food other than old soup), but she still felt too much like a prisoner.

It was the fourth day when Regina wasn't roughly woken by Felicja. She groggily sat up, wondering what time it was. In Leningrad, the darkness of morning and night was the same.

Regina had just finished dressing herself when Felicja arrived. She was always carrying a basket, but this one was considerably heavier. Regina helped her place it on the table. The maid was mildly curious, "You're awake?" Normally she sleeps like a bear…

"Y-yes," Regina shivered despite her wool socks. "Wh-what time is it?"

"Seven thirty, I think The Family is still sleeping," Felicja said, using the name she and the servants for their masters. All of them had been awake. The damp and grimy rooms they lived in were too cold for sleep this time of year, with or without the thin blankets they owned. Most of them huddled by the many lit kitchen ovens to stay warm.

Felicja didn't. She hated being so close to strangers, and the poor living quarters were actually quite spacious with no one in them. She opened the basket and along with Regina's everyday breakfast, withdrew a deep maroon coat, with thick animal fur on the inside. The Latvian was caught off guard, and nearly choked on her spoon.

The Pole obviously found her expression funny, and cracked a smile. "This is for you. Miss Braginsky wants you to go with her to see her fiancée, General Chazok or Chazov or whoever."

The chill of Russian winter went from deathly to almost tolerable in her new coat. She felt embarrassed, as she never owned such a fine thing. To make it worse, Yekaterina included new black boots and gloves, all made of real leather. She walked beside the towering woman as they were escorted to the most chic of the Braginski's cars.

"You look so cute, Regina, like a doll." Yekaterina chose were words carefully. She had a feeling the small girl was uncomfortable around her, but she couldn't grasp why. She wondered if she was being too charitable, but Yekaterina loved giving, and wasn't intended to show Regina's poverty…

"Th-thank you Miss Braginski." Regina's cheeks reddened, furthering her patron's simile. "And th-thank you for giving it to me…"

"Don't apologize!" Yekaterina blurted, and would've said more, but the car door was opened for them. The vehicle was warm, a comfort, as just a few minutes outside had given them chills. They sat in a comfortable silence, one the older woman did not want to break.

She was happy when Regina spoke up first. "M-miss Braginski?"

Yekaterina wondered if her response was too eager. "Da?"

She looked directly at the Latvian, it was only proper. Regina felt threatened; even if Yekaterina's eyes weren't as smoldering or as creepy as her brother's. She wanted to ask when she could leave, if it was ever possible to see her family again. "Wh-what's your fiancée like?"

The small girl was too afraid and shy to ask such direct questions, so she settled on trivial ones. Besides, wasn't she curious about Yekaterina's marriage when she first heard it on the radio?

Yekaterina paused thoughtfully. She didn't even know enough about him to talk in flowery detail, as did the women in her romance novels. And there was somewhat of a dreading feeling that she never would. "Oh, he's been working with my brother and father. He's a… polite man."

Regina was not dense, and understood. The duo said little during the remainder of the car ride.

It was one of the few days Felicja was happy to have hallway cleaning duty. The job consisted of harshly scrubbing frosty water on hard floor until your fingertips went red, your knees swelled and you could see your unattractive reflection on the frigid ground. It was work she would refuse fiercely, demanding to be put to some other job. Sweeping the ashes, washing the clothes- anything.

Today was a rare exception because he had been staying in the mansion. She'd have a chance to see him, finally. It'd been several weeks. She didn't have a chance these past four days because that fat Boris and his hawk of a woman kept her out of sight. 'Not presentable', they said. 'Hardly lady-like'.

Well, if I had some new damn clothes and bath water… Felicja bitterly scrubbed harder at a particular piece of mud. She'd have to use her nails to get it off, but there was no way that'd happen. She wanted to keep just a scrap of personal hygiene.

Naturally vain girls didn't make good servants. She understood why Teresa begged for these jobs, but she didn't enjoy it.

Felicja frowned inwardly. She hated feeling selfish, especially after all that girl did for her.

She heard footsteps echoing through the halls. Fearing it was one of the Family, or worse, Boris, she gathered up her materials and moved to the other hall, out of sight. She cursed at not having any towel to dry the water and suds.

The footsteps stopped right when she went around the corner. Damn, maybe it really was Boris.

"Felicja? It's just me."

Felicja nearly dropped her water bucket in her happiness- she wouldn't have picked it up, anyway. She emerged from the hall, bounding up to the Lithuanian man with energy that wasn't there before.

"Toris! You've been away too long!" Despite her happiness, she gave him a look of dissatisfaction, akin to a teacher scolding a late student.

Toris smiled sheepishly, as if he were truly embarrassed for being away. "I'm sorry. You know my schedule and all the insanity it entails."

"I couldn't even see you all these days you've been here!" Felicja continued. "Which room are you staying in?"

"Oh, I've got a room in a local hotel…"

"Toris!" The maid stomped her foot, her cheeks puffing. Toris thought it was too cute to be threatening. "What I have I told you? Why can't you stay here?"

"I've told you why before, over and over." He affectionately pet Felicja's hair. He knew she didn't like it when he did that, because she was ashamed of how dirty it was. Just like she didn't like hand-holding because she never had a chance to wash them, or kissing, because she never wore make-up.

It was unusual how much he knew about Felicja, and it had only been a few years since their accidental meet.

"To-ris! You aren't listening!"

He blinked, coming out of his short daydream. "Oh? A-ah, yes… I wasn't."

"You won't get a wife if you turn off your ears like that," Felicja teased, mocking anger by crossing her arms.

Toris smiled and touched her hair again, unable to keep away. He wanted to say something heartfelt, along the lines of he'd never have a wandering eye, as long as she was there. He settled for simple laughter as she tried to shoo his hand away.
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I forgot to post this chapter to the community ;;n;; So sorry!! I had it done a long time ago, too... OTL
A cute moment of LietPol fluff at the end, because they're too cute to ignore.
As always, please give any ideas, concerns or comments you have~
This fic is also on FanFiction, I update the chapters and post there much more often OTL;;